Six people were injured in a knife attack during a demonstration in Antwerp, Belgian police said on Thursday evening. Two of those hurt were reported to be in a critical condition in hospital following the incident, which occurred near Operaplein in the city centre.
Police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns said officers detained two suspects at the scene. Early findings suggest the suspects had mingled with demonstrators before the violence began. Authorities said the case is being investigated as attempted murder and is not being treated as terrorism. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the sequence of events and to confirm that no other suspects were involved.
Incident unfolded after peaceful protest
The demonstration, held outside the Opera House and attended by around 50 people, was initially peaceful, according to local reporting. Participants waved flags associated with Kurdish groups and national symbols in support of Kurds in northern Syria, where Kurdish-led forces have been involved in fighting amid a government advance.
Police said the situation escalated shortly after the protest ended at about 7.20pm local time. Four of the injured were found at the square, while two others were located nearby around Rooseveltplaats and Sint-Elisabethstraat.
Community reaction and police response
Orhan Kilic, a spokesperson for Navbel, which represents members of the Kurdish diaspora in Belgium, said families, women, young people and children had attended the protest. He said that, as the demonstration was dispersing, a group of men attacked Kurdish demonstrators, producing knives and stabbing people at random.
Kilic described the incident as a targeted attack on the community rather than an isolated act of violence. Police have not confirmed a motive and said inquiries are ongoing.
Forensic teams were deployed to the scene, and officers urged members of the public to avoid the area while investigations continued. Emergency services treated the injured at the scene before transferring them to hospital.
What this means
The attack has raised concerns about public safety at demonstrations and the protection of minority communities during public gatherings. Police have emphasised that the investigation is focused on criminal violence and that there is no indication of a wider security threat. Authorities are continuing to examine evidence to establish how the suspects accessed the demonstration and to clarify the circumstances that led to the stabbings.
When and where
The incident occurred on Thursday evening in Antwerp, Belgium. Local police confirmed the injuries, arrests and investigation details later the same night.
